AFL's Elite

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Tom Lynch and Taylor Walker of the Crows celebrate after scoring a goal during the AFL First Qualifying Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Adelaide Oval on September 7, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images/AFL Media)

Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast have the most elite players in the competition, according to Champion Data's latest rankings.

Sydney is the next best team with five players listed as 'elite', while Geelong, Greater Western Sydney and Melbourne have four players in that category.

Those in the 'elite' category are classified as the top 10 percent of players in their position over the past two seasons.

Geelong's four elite players does not include inspirational skipper Joel Selwood, who is instead ranked in the above average category.

However, mercurial forward Daniel Menzel is rated as elite after booting 73 goals over his last two seasons even despite missing several games through soreness, being rested or even omitted, as he was for last year's qualifying final against Richmond.

Star Melbourne defender Jake Lever arrives at his new club, following a much-publicised trade from Adelaide, as elite, while Christian Petracca, Jayden Hunt and Tom McDonald are the other Demons to make the cut.

The Western Bulldogs have just one elite player and it's not who you would immediately suspect.

Rebounding half-back Jason Johannisen has been given the nod, despite what was a statistically down year compared with his 2016 season.

Marcus Bontempelli hasn't been branded as elite, but instead has been given the tag of 'above average'.